"We intend to streamline navigation on the Guadiana, putting the river at the service of the population and so that tourist activity can develop, valuing the entire habitat of the estuary and its natural heritage," said the president of Docapesca to Lusa.

According to Sérgio Faias, the survey and planning of nautical infrastructure will be carried out in conjunction with the municipalities of Mértola (Alentejo), in the district of Beja, and Alcoutim, Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, in the district of Faro.

“The involvement of the four councils has to do with the future perspective of the transfer of competences from the port authorities to the municipalities, since within a time they will be able to manage these areas of the river's estuary”.

The official added that the study also intends to make a socio-economic characterization of the different riverside communities in the estuary of the Guadiana River, between Vila Real de Santo António and Mértola, "so that each municipality can envision which investments best serve the population".

In addition, he added, the document “will make it possible to plan and identify needs, even in the section where the dredging for navigability between Pomarão and Mértola has yet to be concluded”.